Out-of-phase pedals oscillated exercising device

ABSTRACT

Leg exercising device for improving a person&#39;&#39;s balance having two pedals for accepting the feet, each pedal being hinged on a four-bar mechanism. The pedals are interconnected by a cable passing over a pulley combination so that, by transferring weight from one pedal to the other the pedals oscillate in a vertical plane in 180* out-of-phase relationship, the pedals remaining horizontal throughout oscillation. Change in length of the cable changes the amplitude of oscillation.

OUT-OF-PIIASE PEDALS OSCILLATED EXERCISING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to anexercising device particularly adapted for, but not limited to,exercising legs and improving balance of players of ball games.

2. Prior Art Many types of exercising devices are available, some ofthese being used to strengthen particular muscles by permitting themuscles to work against a controllable force. Rehabilitation exercisers,such as those described in US. Pat. Nos. 3,316,898, issued to J.W. Brownin 1967, and 2,892,455 issued to L.L. Hutton in 1959, include deviceshaving pedals to carry feet of a person exercising, the pedals beingpowered by an electric motor for oscillation through a particular motionbetween fixed limits. These are ingenious and effective devices,however, they are not easily portable, are relatively expensive, andlimits of movement are not easily adjustable to persons of differentsizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention reduces difficulties anddisadvantages of prior art exercisers knownto the present inventor, byproviding an exercising device, operable by the person to be exercised,thus not requiring external power, and having limits of pedal travelthat are easily adjustable for persons of different sizes. The device isrelatively compact, portable and inexpensive, and is intended primarilyfor improving balance and leg coordination.

One embodiment of the invention includes a flat horizontal base and apair of pedals, each pedal being supported by, and forming, one link ofa four-bar mechanism. The mechanisms are inter-connected by a cablerunning over pulleys. The pedals are restricted to swing in a verticalplane, in limited arcs about the base, reinaining parallel to the baseand oscillating in a 180 out-of-phase relationship.

A detailed description following, related to drawings, givesexemplification of apparatus according to the invention which, however,is capable of expression in structure other than that particularlydescribed and illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a simplified fragmented sideelevation of an exercising device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a simplified plan of the exercising device, one pedal beingremoved,

FIG. 3 is a perspective of the device.

DETAIL DISCLOSURE FIGS. 1 and 2 An exercising device according to theinvention has a horizontal base 11 having a central longitudinal axis12. The base has a vertical frame 13 at a forward end, the frame beingsupported by inclined braces 14, 15, and 16 extending from longitudinalstiffeners 17, 18 and 19, respectively. The vertical frame 13 hastransverse members 20 and 20.1 to provide support for a plurality ofpulleys, described with reference to FIG. 3.

Left and right pedals 21 and 22 accept left and right feet 23 and 24,shown in broken outline, of a person coupled to the base 11 by left andright fourbar mechanisms 26 and 27.

The left mechanism 26 is describedas follows. The left pedal 21 has on alower face a forward pedal hinge 31 on a pedal axis 32, and spaced rearpedal hinges 33 and 34 straddling the pedal axis, the pedal hinges beingsecured to lower face of the pedal. A forward link 36 is hinged at anupper end of the forward hinge 31, and is hinged at a lower end on aforwa'rd'base hinge 37 se cured to the base 11. Spaced parallel rearlinks39 and 40 are hinged at upper ends to the' rear hinge 33 and 34,and are hinged at lower ends to rear base hinges 42 and 43 respectively,the rear links appearingpartially to straddle the forward link when'vi'ewedfrom above as seen in FIG. 2. The basehinges are secured to anupper face of the base. The forward and rearhinges at opposite ends ofthe links are pin joints providing sufficient articulation to permitswinging of the links through arcs of about 30. I

The forward and rear links 36, 39, and 40 have equal lengths, andhorizontal spacing between pinsofthe for ward and rear hinges ofthe'pedal and forward and rear hinges on the base are also equal,'thusforming a closed four-bar mechanism having opposite'sides or links ofequal length i.e., arranged as a parallelogram. The four-bar mechanismserves as a hinge'means for the pedal, a portion of the pedal between'thepedal'hinges forming one link, and a portion of-the base between thebase hinges forming an opposite linkfW-hen'the pedal 21 swings aboutthebase it describes an are about the forward and rear hinges on thebase,the"pedal 21'being maintained parallel to the base. Loci of hingepins of the hinges 31, 33 and 34 are shownas'broken lines-46 and47 (FIG.1 only). A cable-48 (brokenline)-secured to the pedals has upper andlower portions 50 and 49, and passes around a roller means*5l ('brokenoutline) on the frame 13, the cable 48-serving asa flexible tension linkcoupling the pedals together (see'FIG. 3).

The right four-bar mechanism is also as above. FIGS. 2 and 3 The rollermeans 51 has four pulleys, disposed-so-as to turn the cable 48 through180 in a'horizontal plane and about 30 in a vertical plane withoutderailing the roller means. With reference to" FIG. 3,-a first upperpulley 52 has a horizontal'axis 'disposed'perpendicularly to the axis 12of the base, and isspaced'above a first lower pulley 53 having ahorizontal-"axleparallel with the axis 12. Thus the upper pulley isjournalled for rotation in a plane perpendicular to the-'baseandcontaining the lower portion'49 of thecable, andthe lower pulley isjournalled for rotation in a plane-perpendicular to the base andperpendicularto the plane of the upper pulley. As seen in FIG.2,the'pulley'52 isaligned with the lower portion49 of the cable' 48, oneportion of the cable passing over the pulley.

Peripheries of the upper and lower pulleys are aligned thus permitting ataut cable' to extend between the pulleys, such alignmenthereinafterbeing referred to as peripheral alignment.

A similar pair of second upper and lowerpulleys 55 and 56 are mounted onthe frame 13, the pulley 55 being aligned with the upper portion50 ofthe cable'48 using the device. The pedalsare supported above andextending from the pedal 21. 'All four pulleys are mounted onundesignated brackets. One end59 of the cable 48 is secured to the pedal2l andpasses over the upper pulley 55, downwards and around thelowerpulley 56, then extends parallel to the frame 13to thepulley 53 andupwards to the pulley 52 as shown in FIG. 3. An opposite end 62 of thecable 48 is secured to a turnbuckle 63 which is hinged to the pedal 22.

Coupling of the platforms by the cable 48 results in simultaneousoscillation of the pedals about the limited arcs, movement being 180 outof phase, the pedals moving in opposite directions. The turnbuckle 63 isused to change effective length of the coupling cable, adjustment of theturnbuckle changes amplitude of motion of the pedals, which amplitude isbetween two limits of travel. A lower limit of travel of a particularpedal is governed by contact of the pedal with the base 11, and an upperlimit, when the pedal is weighted, is set by length of the cable andrelative position of the roller means 51. Within limits set mainly bythe base and the relative positions of the pulleys 52 and 55, when thecable 48 is shortened, the amplitude of oscillation of each pedal isincreased. This permits the device to be easily adjusted for use bypersons of different sizes.

Best results have been attained when the upper pulleys 52 and 55 are ina position about half way between a maximum upper limit of the pedalstroke and the base, which serves as a lower limit of the pedal stroke.This results in the pedals describing arcs, disposed essentially equallyabove and below a horizontal plane (not shown) passing through the axlesof the upper pulleys.

OPERATION The base 11 is placed on level ground and the person using thedevice faces the frame 13 and stands with one foot, for example hisright foot 24, on the pedal 22 which is resting on the base. The leftfoot 23 is then lifted and placed on the left pedal 21 which is at anupper limit on its stroke. The person's weight is then transferred fromthe right foot to the left foot and the left pedal then descends,causing the right pedal simultaneously to rise in the out-of-phaserelationship described. The left pedal contacts the base at the end ofits downward stroke, simultaneously the right pedal reaching an upperlimit of its stroke. The above procedure is reversed by transferring theweight back onto the right foot, which causes the right pedal to descendto the base again. Thus, by transferring weight alternately from onepedal to the next, the pedals oscillate over the limited arcs and theperson exercising maintains balance. In this manner, the personpractices a technique of maintaining balance when positions of the feetoscillate speed of oscillation being controlled by the personexercising.

ALTERNATIVES AND EQUIVALENTS The roller means 51 as described andillustrated has four pulleys 52, 53, 55, 56, disposed so as to permitthe cable extending between the pedals to be turned through l80 in ahorizontal plane and a limited angle of about 30 in a vertical plane inorder to accommodate l80 out-of-phase oscillations of the pedals asdescribed. Other roller means adapted to attain the same result areknown.

Other means to change lengths of cable are known, such as an eye screwprovided with a swivel to reduce twisting of the cable. The cable can besecured to the links instead of the pedals, and, if desired,semipermanent cable securing means such as cable clamps can be used.

I claim:

1. An exercising device adapted primarily for use by a person for legexercise and balance improvement, the device having a base having alongitudinal axis, right and left pedals to accept right and left feetof the person exercising, each pedal being supported above and coupledto the base through a hinge means including:

a. forward and rear pedal hinges secured to a lower face of the pedal,

b. forward and rear base hinges secured to an upper face of the base,

c. forward and rear links extending between and journalled on theforward and rear pedal and base hinges respectively, the forward andrear links forming opposite links of a closed mechanism, the devicefurther including:

(1. a roller means secured to a portion of the device fixed relative tothe base,

e. a flexible tension link having one end secured to one pedal and anopposite end secured to the other pedal, the tension link passing aroundthe roller means, the hinge means being adapted so that when weight ofthe person is transferred from one foot to the other, the pedalsoscillate within parallel planes extending normally to the base, thepedals oscillating in a out-ofphase relationship.

2. An exercising device as claimed in claim 1 in which:

f. the roller means has a pulley combination disposed so as to permitthe flexible tension link extending between the pedals to be turnedthrough an angle of about 180 in a horizontal plane, and through anangle of about 30 in a vertical plane, in order to accommodate the 180out of phase oscillations of the pedals.

3. An exercising device as claimed in claim I in which:

g. the pedals have upper and lower limits of travel and h. the rollermeans is positioned so as to be between the upper and lower limits oftravel.

4. An exercising device as claimed in claim 3 in which:

i. the roller means is positioned half way between the I upper and lowerlimits of travel on the pedals.

5. An exercising device as claimed in claim 1 in which:

j. the flexible tension link is a cable, and the roller means includes:

k. a first upper pulley journalled for rotation in a plane perpendicularto the base and containing a portion of the cable extending from a firstpedal to the upper roller,

1. a first lower pulley journalled for rotation in a plane perpendicularto the base and perpendicular to the plane of the upper pulley, thelower pulley being peripherally aligned with the upper pulley,

m. a second lower pulley, coplanar with, and spaced from, the firstlower pulley,

n. a second upper pulley peripherally aligned with the second lowerpulley and journalled for rotation in a plane perpendicular to the baseand containing a portion of the cable extending from a second pedal, thepulleys being aligned so that the cable extending from the first pedalpasses over the first upper pulley, around the first lower pulley,extends transversely to the second lower pulley, and passes upwards overthe second upper pulley, after which it is secured to the second pedal,thus coupling the 8. An exercising device as claimed in claim I, inpedals together for oscillation in a 180 out-ofhi h the hin e means has:

phase relationship.

q. a forward link having upper and lower ends hinged 6. An exercisingdevice as defined in claim 5 includto the forward pedal hinge and theforward base ing: 5 l

0. length adjustment means of the cable to vary hmge. respecuve lengthof the cable to permit change in length of r. a pair of spaced parallelrear links having upper cable for adjustment of the stroke of thepedals. and lower ends. lunged to l rear Pedal hlllges and 7. Anexercising device as defined in claim 6 ln which a rear base hmgesrespectlvely, the rear links p the length adjustment means includes: 10tially straddling the forward llnk. p. a turnbuckle.

1. An exercising device adapted primarily for use by a person for legexercise and balance improvement, the device having a base having alongitudinal axis, right and left pedals to accept right and left feetof the person exercising, each pedal being supported above and coupledto the base through a hinge means including: a. forward and rear pedalhinges secured to a lower face of the pedal, b. forward and rear basehinges secured to an upper face of the base, c. forward and rear linksextending between and journalled on the forward and rear pedal and basehinges respectively, the forward and rear links forming opposite linksof a closed mechanism, the device further including: d. a roller meanssecured to a portion of the device fixed relative to the base, e. aflexible tension link having one end secured to one pedal and anopposite end secured to the other pedal, the Tension link passing aroundthe roller means, the hinge means being adapted so that when weight ofthe person is transferred from one foot to the other, the pedalsoscillate within parallel planes extending normally to the base, thepedals oscillating in a 180* out-of-phase relationship.
 2. An exercisingdevice as claimed in claim 1 in which: f. the roller means has a pulleycombination disposed so as to permit the flexible tension link extendingbetween the pedals to be turned through an angle of about 180* in ahorizontal plane, and through an angle of about 30* in a vertical plane,in order to accommodate the 180* out of phase oscillations of thepedals.
 3. An exercising device as claimed in claim 1 in which: g. thepedals have upper and lower limits of travel and h. the roller means ispositioned so as to be between the upper and lower limits of travel. 4.An exercising device as claimed in claim 3 in which: i. the roller meansis positioned half way between the upper and lower limits of travel onthe pedals.
 5. An exercising device as claimed in claim 1 in which: j.the flexible tension link is a cable, and the roller means includes: k.a first upper pulley journalled for rotation in a plane perpendicular tothe base and containing a portion of the cable extending from a firstpedal to the upper roller, l. a first lower pulley journalled forrotation in a plane perpendicular to the base and perpendicular to theplane of the upper pulley, the lower pulley being peripherally alignedwith the upper pulley, m. a second lower pulley, coplanar with, andspaced from, the first lower pulley, n. a second upper pulleyperipherally aligned with the second lower pulley and journalled forrotation in a plane perpendicular to the base and containing a portionof the cable extending from a second pedal, the pulleys being aligned sothat the cable extending from the first pedal passes over the firstupper pulley, around the first lower pulley, extends transversely to thesecond lower pulley, and passes upwards over the second upper pulley,after which it is secured to the second pedal, thus coupling the pedalstogether for oscillation in a 180* out-of-phase relationship.
 6. Anexercising device as defined in claim 5 including: o. length adjustmentmeans of the cable to vary length of the cable, to permit change inlength of cable for adjustment of the stroke of the pedals.
 7. Anexercising device as defined in claim 6 in which the length adjustmentmeans includes: p. a turnbuckle.
 8. An exercising device as claimed inclaim 1, in which the hinge means has: q. a forward link having upperand lower ends hinged to the forward pedal hinge and the forward basehinge respectively, r. a pair of spaced parallel rear links having upperand lower ends hinged to the rear pedal hinges and the rear base hingesrespectively, the rear links partially straddling the forward link.